G1 Pathfinder Carrion Crown

[Xeno55]

(Beginning ICC thread)

Raleigh Aasimar Paladin
Arthur Grayson Human Oracle
Vein Vole Human Ranger
Segor Talbot (aka Swiftlittle) Halfling Rogue

[Xeno55]

You each, as per the player's guide intro to Carrion Crown, get a single Harrow Card. Pick a number from 1 to 48.

You meet up with one another a few miles from the town of Ravengro. Perhaps you are approached by a fortune teller, who gifts you each with a card. More to follow.

[Xeno55]

You are greeted by Kendra Lorrimor.

Although he was getting on in years, Petros’s death was
rather sudden. His daughter Kendra, a 25- year-old
woman, is deep in mourning. Her eyes are red and puffy
and she dresses in dark, conservative clothes. Trim
and attractive, Kendra greets the PCs with a mixture
of curiosity, sadness, and relief—no one else has
come to pay their respects to her father, and “with
things the way they are in town these days,” very
few folks from Ravengro have come out for the
funeral as well. Kendra waves off questions for
now, promising the PCs that after her father
is buried and they return to her house, she’ll
answer any questions they have—both about
her father’s death and about his will.

She leads the party to the Restlands, the local graveyard where the professor will be buried. You are of course still in your traveling cloths, fully armed. She asks three of you (not the Halfling) to act as pall bearers. You have a choice of right front, left front, or right rear - a servant is prepared for the left rear position.

[Arillius]

Arthur willingly offers himself as the front right pall bearer, doing as directed and taking the handle. He seems rather curious about the whole thing and the others he had encountered, but keeps quiet for now out of respect to the recently deceased. He shifts his shoulders just a little beneath his chain-shirt and repositions the large sword on his back a little to make it easier to walk with while carrying such a large casket.

He had thought about speaking to the others when he met them on the road, but after speaking the fortune teller that came out of no where he was a little to disquieted for conversation. He thinks to the spirit within him, posing a question out of curiosity, 'Know what that was all about? Some random woman on the road...' He asks, trying not to look like he was day dreaming as he does this.

OOC

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Internal thoughts will be in italics, all of his words will be in blue. As for the number I choose... 29.

[Blackjoy]

Vein's natural tendency to avoid drawing attention to himself leads him to take up a position behind Arthur. Vein looks around for a familiar face as he has not yet found his father among the mourners. Vein is not familiar with the decedent's daughter and she was not mentioned in the letters he exchanged with the professor regarding his father. Vein tries to sense the authenticity of the Kendra's emotions.

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(1d20+2)[19]
D20 +2 for Wisdom

For the number, "I choose you Pika..!" er I choose 11

[lostsole31]

Raised and carted around in various gypsy caravans, the otherwise agnostic Swiftlittle nonetheless holds a deep regard (and fear of) various superstitions, not the least of which might be one that seems like a true oracle or fortune-teller. Seeing himself as on the bottom of fate's good graces, but remembering that 'cutting a deck' must always be four from the top or bottom, Swiftlittle picks the 44th card.

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Response to come per DMs follow-on post.

At the funeral, Swiftlittle is somewhere in the crowd, looking from in-between the legs of the Big Folk. Not so much unseen as unnoticed.

[Moonlight]

Raleigh sighs deeply, taking up the opposite side of the casket from Arthur. She nods to him slightly in acknowledgment before turning her face from him. 'No tears,' she reminds herself. 'Not now.' Raleigh turns to Kendra, sorrow finding its way to her eyes.

"Your father is a blessed man to have so many friends," she offers in whispered words, noting those around. She offers a very slight smile (as much as she can manage) before taking the casket's burden.

OOC:

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I'll choose number 17. Do we have an OOC thread?

[Xeno55]

Feel free to start an OOC thread.

[Xeno55]

Kendra leads the procession up the Dreamwake. By tradition the local cleric and other mourners wait by the grave site, deeper in the Restlands. As the procession reaches the halfway point along the
Dreamwake, rounding a corner onto a path called the
Eversleep, they see that the way ahead is blocked by a
group of a dozen surly looking locals. One speaks out as soon as the group is noticed:

“That’s far enough. We been talking, and we don’t want Lorrimor
buried in the Restlands. You can take him upriver and bury him
there if you want, but he ain’t goin’ in the ground here!”
Kendra is swift to respond, her sadness swiftly transforming into
anger. “What are you talking about?” she cries out. “I arranged it
with Father Grimburrow. He’s waiting for us! The grave’s already
been...”
“You don’t get it, woman. We won’t have a necromancer buried
in the same place as our kin. I suggest you move out while you still
can. Folks are pretty upset about this right now.”

You have a few seconds to speak or act, or to await events.

[Xeno55]

Vein by the way is convinced of the genuineness of Kendra's grief, and now her equally genuine rising fury.

[Arillius]

Arthur, using one hand to keep the casket up, raises the other to wave at the group before them. "Please calm down. This is neither the place nor the time to start anything." He nods to Kendra and says, "She is mourning the life of her lost father. I bet none of you had to deal with an angry mob when your relatives passed, did you? Why can't you offer the same courtesy to her?"

Arthur is trying to keep himself in check, disliking the way those before him reacted to something as simple as a funeral. Superstitious lot, all of them. Then again, he probably would be too if he wasn't what he was.

OOC

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(1d20+9)[23] Diplomacy to try and calm the crowd down a little. Also, in my first post Arthur asked the spirit inside him a question. Any response?

[Xeno55]

#29 The Teamster

Shields (Con): You can spend a shields card on your turn
to gain an additional standard or move action this turn.

or

True Neutral: You may gain a one-time
insight into the future as the spell
augury, using your character level as
your caster level. Meditating on the
particular action in question requires
10 minutes and does not expend
material components.

#11 The Unicorn

Crowns (Cha): You may spend a crown card to reroll any
one d20 roll you just made. You must take the results of the
second roll, even if it is worse.

or

Chaotic Good: You receive a +4 circumstance
bonus on one CMB check to avoid or escape a
grapple or on one Escape Artist check.

#44 The Owl

Stars (Wis): If you feel stuck at some point in the adventure,
you can spend a card of this suit and petition the GM for a
hint about what to do next. If the GM feels that there is no
information to be gained, the stars card is not spent.

or

True Neutral: You may gain a one-time
insight into the future as the spell
augury, using your character level as
your caster level. Meditating on the
particular action in question requires
10 minutes and does not expend
material components.

#17 The Trumpet

Shields (Con): You can spend a shields card on your turn
to gain an additional standard or move action this turn.

or

Lawful Good: You may smite evil, as the paladin
ability, gaining the benef its until the start of your
next turn. If you have levels in paladin greater than
half your total Hit Dice, use your paladin level
to determine bonus damage; otherwise, your
bonus damage equals half your character level,
rounded down (minimum 1).

(edited to change first 17 to an 11)

[lostsole31]

Swiftlittle, hearing words of such simple strength from the pallbearer, nods his head in appreciation and waits to see what happens.

Arthur

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Since you are open and chatting, can we have a description of your character, please?

[Arillius]

Arthur was a rather tall, somewhat broad man standing about at about 6 feet, maybe 6'1. He had muscle, most likely hard muscle that had been well trained. He had shoulder length black hair that went over the back of his head and covered the back of his neck. It had been maybe a day since he had shaved, his jaw having a few sharp whiskers that added to his already rugged appearance. Arthur's steel gray eyes were quite piercing, but not as cold or hard as one would imagine. From right to left going down from the corner of his right eye was a gaping scar, one that traveled down his face, his neck, and eventually disappeared beneath his shirt, which he wore beneath his chain shirt. Sheathed in a leather scabbard that was hanging from a shoulder strap that wrapped around the front of his chest was a large sword. Though it was obviously old it was also just as obviously well taken care of.

His voice matched him almost perfectly. It was deep, authoritative, and somehow even sounded experienced. Though his words were simple he somehow conveyed a great deal with that voice. One could easily imagine that voice getting angry, lowering in tone and raising in volume. In contrast, one could also imagine that voice laughing, ringing in the air with genuine happiness.

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I'll go with the shield card.

[Moonlight]

Necromancer. The word reverberates in Raleigh's mind. How dare they...

Lost for the briefest of moments, sharing Kendra's rage, Raleigh looks to the casket while shaking her head. "This man has probably helped more of you than you care to acknowledge. Do not tarnish his memory now when wounds are still fresh."

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And, OOC thread.

[Xeno55]

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Arthur discards his Harrow card, giving him an extra action. His impressive appearance and continued speech, coupled with Raleigh's aid, is effective versus the mob.

The locals waver and then disperse, although some cast looks of hatred over their shoulders.

Kendra is impressed, especially with Arthur.

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The party gains 600xp, 150@, for talking down the mob.

Father Grimburrow and a pair of gravediggers are
already waiting at the site of the professor’s burial—
as part of local tradition, they do not accompany the
pallbearers from the gate to the grave. Besides the PCs,
only a small handful of villagers are attending the
funeral procession. Old friends of Lorrimar, they too
have come to pay their respects. These NPCs consist of
Councilman Vashian Hearthmount, Councilman Gharen
Muricar, tavernkeeper Zokar Elkarid and his 13-yearold
son Pevrin, and Jominda Fallenbridge (Ravengro’s
apothecary and one of the professor’s good friends).

No further
complications prevent the lowering of his coffin into the
open grave by the gravediggers. Father Grimburrow gives
a short sermon, then invites Kendra to say a few words
about her father. Kendra fights back tears and briefly
recounts a few of her father’s more courageous or self less
moments, thanking everyone once again for coming.
She then invites anyone else to share a few stories or
remembrances. Any PCs who wish to do so may accompany their comments with a performance or diplomacy check.

[Xeno55]

subscribing

[Arillius]

Arthur steps forward, looking at the assembled people with a genuine expression of understanding. He starts off simple, speaking of his wishes that all may take comfort in knowing such a man. He continues on into the story of how he met the professor, the man apparently out in the field on some kind of research. Arthur speaks about how he saved the man from a lone wolf that tried to sneak up on the two. He speaks of the night of drinking, laughing, and debating he had with the learned man.

"How kind he was, the professor. I tried to turn down his offer of a reward three times and eventually he just said he'd pay me back. To be honest, I would have probably said no again the next time he tried but now..." He looks down at the casket and smiles just a little, "He managed to win that argument without even trying. Just like he won every debate we had that night. Don't know how he does it, but to the end he is a man I am deeply honored to have known, even if it was only for the shortest of times."

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Taking ten for diplomacy. Couldn't find rules against it. >.<

10+9=19 Diplomacy

[Xeno55]

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I agree, take 10 is reasonable

[lostsole31]

Not counting the six pallbearers, three of whom are curiously combat-ready (they must've expected trouble from the locals, right?) including the man that managed to talk down the rabble, there is the beautiful Kendra, 2 councilmen, a respected businessman and his adolescent, and the priest.

It seems, now, that what might have been mistaken as a child is curiously out of place. It is a halfling, standing at 3' 4" and lanky. He is roadworn, wet, and tired. His hair is curly, but wet and bedraggled. He has light brown hair and dazzling blue eyes. If he could be made to clean up, he might actually look quite fetching for his folk.

He wears leather armor, but some of the stitching is coming undone, though most of it is not seen. He has his cloak pulled tight around him to keep out the wet chill. At his back is a backpack with a bedroll, though the pack itself doesn't seem terribly full. The tip of a rapier scabbard pokes out from the bottom of the cloak, but considering the rest of his equipment, it may be better for more martially-oriented folk if they do NOT see the state of neglect of his sidearm.

Despite his size, he moves forward without timidity (though without any flamboyance or braggadocio, either) to where one would be expected to speak. If there is anything upon which to stand, he gets atop it.

He tells a story of how Professor Lorrimoor rescued him from when he was cold, wet, starving, and dehydrated, and brought him to a city .... where he ended up cold, wet, starving, and dehydrated, but in a different, more urbane way. His story is quite comical, he uses self-effacing humor, but also pokes fun (not meanly) at the Professor's foibles, and describes some of the funny things that happened to make it here ... such as having to be bailed out of jail. His humor, thought quite effective, is not "jokey" ... but is the 'pathos' comedian style, wherein the comedian seems more stoic than jovial.

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Perform: Comedy (1d20+7)[17]

[Blackjoy]

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I'll take the Crown(cha) reroll a d20

[Blackjoy]

Vein steps forward. His face all but covered by his hooded cloak, Vein removes the hood to reveal his black hair and brown skin covering a square jaw covered with several days growth. Vein speaks in a low voice but with a deliberate pace.

"It is with much sorrow that I received news of the Professor's death. I owe much to his generosity of time and earnest interest in my own development. Though I knew him mostly through his letters, he was a surrogate father and mentor to me as I made my way in the world. If by my will or my bow I may be of some service to his own family then I offer it."

[Xeno55]

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Diplomacy roll for Vein (1d20)[13]

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You may take a reroll if you like, but the card is discarded and gone forever, and you are stuck with the new roll even if it is lower.

[Xeno55]

Segor's improbable comedy routine goes over well with the mourners. He even gets a brief smile out of Kendra.

[Blackjoy]

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Diplomacy roll for Vein [roll0]

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You may take a reroll if you like, but the card is discarded and gone forever, and you are stuck with the new roll even if it is lower.

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You wrote that a person "may" accompany their speech with a diplomacy roll which suggests the roll is optional. I was choosing to role and not roll. .

[Moonlight]

Raleigh is a graceful creature, humanlike in appearance save for her ever-so-slightly pointed ears. Her piercing blue eyes lack their usual luster given the recent events.

When it seems to be her turn, the woman takes a deep breath, offering a very slight smile that does not quite reach her eyes to those gathered. When she speaks, it's gentle and composed.

"I... wish I had known the Professor as well as everyone here. I had only known him for a very brief time before his death. The short time I did know him, a few things became quite obvious: he cared for his work and the people involved. He had many stories to tell, and it does not surprise me that he touched many people."

[Xeno55]

After the funeral is over and Kendra has said
her goodbyes to the other guests, she invites
the PCs back to her home (so recently
her father’s) for a drink and to hear
his last will and testament. The
Lorrimor residence is a modest
home with crowded bookshelves in every
room. The reading of the professor’s
will requires the presence of Councilman
Vashian Hearthmount (the closest thing Ravengro
has to a solicitor), and he has some other matters to
attend to after the funeral, so he doesn’t arrive for about
an hour.

Vashian arrives precisely on time. No
Sense Motive check is necessary to note that he doesn’t
completely approve of strangers being involved in local
matters, but he keeps his comments to himself, focusing
his involvement entirely on the reading of Petros’s will.
Kendra isn’t sure what’s contained in the will, since part of
its stipulation was that all of the PCs must be present for
its reading. Councilman Vashian produces a scroll case,
shows that the professor’s personal seal is unbroken, then
breaks the wax and opens the case. As he does, a small iron
key falls out of the tube, clattering noisily onto the table.
Undaunted by the key, the councilman begins to read,
eager to be done with the business and to get back home.

“I, Petros Lorrimor, being of sound mind, do hereby commit to this
parchment my last will and testament. Let it be known that, with
the exception of the specific details below, I leave my home and
personal belongings entire to my daughter Kendra. Use them or
sell them as you see fit, my child.
“Yet beyond the bequeathing of my personal effects, this
document must serve other needs. I have arranged for the reading
of this document to be delayed until all principals can be in
attendance, for I have more than mere inheritance to apportion. I
have two final favors to ask.
“To my old friends, I hate to impose upon you all, but there are
few others who are capable of appreciating the true significance of
what it is I have to ask. As some of you know, I have devoted many
of my studies to all manner of evil, that I might know the enemy and
inform those better positioned to stand against it. For knowledge
of one’s enemy is the surest path to victory over its plans.
“And so, over the course of my lifetime, I have seen fit to acquire
a significant collection of valuable but dangerous tomes, any one
of which in the wrong circumstances could have led to an awkward
legal situation. While the majority of these tomes remain safe under
lock and key at the Lepidstadt University, I fear that a few I have
borrowed remain in a trunk in my Ravengro home. While invaluable
for my work in life, in death, I would prefer not to burden my
daughter with the darker side of my profession, or worse still, the
danger of possessing these tomes herself. As such, I am entrusting
my chest of tomes to you, posthumously. I ask that you please deliver
the collection to my colleagues at the University of Lepidstadt, who
will put them to good use for the betterment of the cause.
“Yet before you leave for Lepidstadt, there is the matter of
another favor—please delay your journey one month and spend
that period of time here in Ravengro to ensure that my daughter is
safe and sound. She has no one to count on now that I am gone,
and if you would aid her in setting things in order for whatever she
desires over the course of this month, you would have my eternal
gratitude. From my savings, I have also willed to each of you a sum
of one hundred platinum coins. For safekeeping, I have left these
funds with Embreth Daramid, one of my most trusted friends in
Lepidstadt—she has been instructed to issue this payment upon
the safe delivery of the borrowed tomes no sooner than one month
after the date of the reading of this will.
“I, Petros Lorrimor, hereby sign this will in Ravengro on this
first day of Calistril, in the year 4711.”

[Xeno55]

Once the will is read, Councilman Vashian looks to
Kendra, who thanks him and dismisses him. Putting on
a brave face, Kendra thanks the PCs again for coming,
and informs them that she’ll need at least a few weeks
to decide if she wants to sell her family home or remain
here in Ravengro—in the meantime, as stipulated by the
will, she asks the PCs to remain as well. She offers rooms
in her spacious house for the PCs, promising them free
room and board for the month the will requests them to
remain in town, and then excuses herself to go fetch the
chest mentioned in the will.

The chest itself is a relatively small object of oak and
iron. Kendra, nervous about the contents, offers the key
to the PCs to give them the honor of opening the chest.
The key fits the lock perfectly, and within are several
old tomes and one relatively new one. The newest tome
sits on the top and bears the phrase “Read me now!”
scratched into the leather cover.
The other tomes comprise the books of dangerous lore
mentioned in his will—three of these have notes tucked
into them indicating that they should be delivered
to one Montagnie Crowl, a professor of antiquities at
Lepidstadt University. The fourth, Manual of the Order
of the Palatine Eye, has a note indicating it should be
delivered to Embreth Daramid, a judge at the Lepidstadt
Courthouse (although the note asks for this delivery in
particular to be handled discreetly, and includes the
address of Embreth’s home so that the PCs can deliver it
there). These books are summarized below.
•Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye: The rich purple
cover contains a brass scarab set with a single eye in
its center. The book’s covers are rimmed in polished steel
and clasped with a small but intricate lock, the keyhole
of which appears to be for a key with a strange,
triangular shaft.
On Verified Madness: A jet-black book
tied shut with a red ribbon.
• Serving Your Hunger: A thin book with a faded brown leather cover.
• The Umbral Leaves: A thick lexicon with a very light tan leather cover.

[Arillius]

Arthur's eyes go wide at the sum of money he was being offered. 100 platinum coins. With that kind of money, he could live reasonably comfortable for years and never have to take jobs for coin during all of it. More over, the task the professor asked of them was rather simple. When Kendra returned he stood, slowly, and looked to Kendra for a few moments. Then he bows deeply and respectfully, "As your father requests I shall remain for a month to assist you in any way that I can. Please do not hesitate to come to me."

He turns to the chest curiously and looks at the contents within. The will did not mention a book to be opened but that note on top of it scratched into the surface makes Arthur just a little curious. He does not reach out to take it however, though he does have to resist trying too.

[Moonlight]

Raleigh silently twists her hair about the end of her finger through the will reading. The money is truly of little interest, what perks the girl's interest are the books. Curious as the next to the contents of the chest, she takes out one book after another, laying them on the table with great care, near reverence. She looks over the first book, contemplating the inscribed words. She looks to the others.

"If the Professor says to," she shrugs, turning the cover over to open the book to read the contents.